Trading Symbols
TSXV: AFR
Frankfurt: OWW
VANCOUVER,
May 20 /PRNewswire/ - African Metals
Corporation ("AFR") is pleased to report that the Company has
successfully completed trial processing of a bulk sample of the
historic Luisha South stockpile. Approximately 200 tonnes of bulk
sample grading approximately 2% copper and 0.3% cobalt has been
excavated and trucked to a generator powered, modular concentration
plant including a DMS (Dense Media Separator) plant and gravity
spirals.
The 200 tonne material produced a DMS
concentrate grading approximately 32% copper, 1.2% cobalt; fines
concentrate from spirals graded approximately 28% copper and 1.6%
cobalt. The results highlight the economic potential of processing
the stockpile material using gravity based separation process
technology.
The bulk processing results will be used in
conjunction with metallurgical test results from METS-SGS in
Perth, and a maiden resource
estimation which is expected in May, to produce a feasibility study
and cash flow model.
AFR aims to commence full time concentrate
production by end Q3 2011, if the study and cash flow modeling
produce favorable scenarios.
Luisha South Project Stockpile RC Drilling
In October 2010,
Magnum Drilling Sprl completed a 42 hole, Reverse Circulation (RC)
drilling program on top of the Luisha South stockpile. Based on the
positive assay results from the RC drilling program, and the
observation that the mineralization is of an oxide nature
(malachite and heterogenite), AFR has engaged METS and SGS in
Perth, Australia, to conduct
metallurgical beneficiation test work aimed at producing a higher
grade concentrate amenable to conventional hydrometallurgical
leaching. Test work on ore characteristics and heavy media
separation qualities has commenced, with beneficiation results
expected late May.
With the goal of commencing production of an
oxide concentrate by the end of Q3, 2011, AFR took an opportunity
to run a bulk ore sample through a nearby DMS Plant and spirals.
The results of the bulk sample test run were to be used in
conjunction with the metallurgical beneficiation test work to
optimize copper and cobalt recovery.
An initial composite sample was selected to be
processed through the DMS plant. The composite sample represented
coarse Reverse Circulation (RC) drill chips collected from the
stockpile drilling in 2010; the chips came from holes drilled
across the stockpile.
Approximately 300kg of composite drill material
grading on average 0.3% copper and 0.3% cobalt, was transported
some 40km to a generator powered, modular DMS (Dense Media
Separator) plant and spirals near Likasi for processing.
The DMS plant usually operated at an average
through put of 50 tonnes of ore per hour, with the spirals
processing fines at a throughput rate of 60 tonnes of ore per hour.
The plant was simple, and consisted of a Primary Crushing Circuit
(-150mm static grizzly screen, jaw crusher, conveyor system,
scrubber, -1.6mm double deck sizing screen); Spiral Plant
(processing -1.6mm fines); and DMS Plant (processing -27mm to
+1.6mm material). The spiral bank and conveyor system are shown in
Photo 1 here: http://files.newswire.ca/138/AFRphotos.pdf.
Approximately four x 1kg samples were collected
from four stages during the DMS plant test run. The samples were
dispatched to SGS laboratories in Kalulushi, Zambia, where they were analyzed for copper
and cobalt. The results are listed in Table 1.
Sample |
Weight
(Kg) |
Comment |
Cu
% |
Co
% |
Cu
Acid_sol_% |
Co
acid_sol_% |
P002458 |
1.12 |
BIN - pre DMS,
composite average |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
P002459 |
0.62 |
SPIRAL - fines
reject |
1.6 |
0.1 |
1.4 |
0.1 |
P002460 |
1.22 |
SPIRAL - fines
concentrate |
4.7 |
0.2 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
P002461 |
1.02 |
DMS concentrate |
15.1 |
0.5 |
14.8 |
0.3 |
Table 1: Luisha Stockpile RC - 300kg composite
bulk sample for DMS test work
The DMS plant produced a concentrate grading
15.1% Cu, 0.5% Co.
The Spirals concentrate of fine grained material
produced a concentrate grading 4.7% Cu, 0.2% Co. The results
indicated that the DMS plant successfully produced a higher grade
concentrate.
The DMS process plant operations' team however
considered the performance of the DMS plant during the processing
of the 300kg composite drill material to have been below par; the
plant and spirals struggled with the fine-grained nature of the
composite RC hammer sample, and the plant may have introduced
contamination issues. As a result the company decided to run
another trial by processing a 200 tonne bulk tonnage stockpile
sample.
Approximately 200 tonnes of stockpile material
grading on average 2% copper and 0.2% cobalt, was excavated from
the northern portion of the stockpile. The stockpile sampling
location is highlighted on Figures 1 and 2 here:
http://files.newswire.ca/138/AFRfigure1&2.pdf.
Twenty-two truckloads of sample material was
removed from the stockpile and transported to the DMS plant for
processing. The bulk tonnage sample was successfully
processed producing a high grade concentrate (Photo 2:
http://files.newswire.ca/138/AFRphotos.pdf).
A total of 28 x 1kg (approximately) grab samples
were collected from various stages of the processing of the bulk
sample; 22 samples originated from the trucks hauling the samples
whilst six were sourced from the DMS plant during operations. All
samples were dispatched to SGS laboratories in Kalulushi,
Zambia, for analysis. Results of
the analysis summarized in Table 2.
Sample |
Weight
(Kg) |
Comment |
Cu
% |
Co
% |
Cu
Acid_sol_% |
Co
acid_sol_% |
P002484 |
1.03 |
DMS concentrate |
32.63 |
1.15 |
31.52 |
0.6 |
P002485 |
1.04 |
Oversize DMS reject |
1.58 |
0.24 |
1.57 |
0.21 |
P002486 |
1.08 |
SPIRAL - fines reject |
4.87 |
0.83 |
4.54 |
0.65 |
P002487 |
1.10 |
BIN - pre DMS,
composite average |
3.37 |
0.48 |
3.18 |
0.39 |
P002488 |
1.06 |
SPIRAL - fines
concentrate |
28.74 |
1.61 |
24.6 |
1.1 |
P002489 |
1.18 |
Undersize DMS reject |
0.49 |
0.03 |
0.44 |
0.03 |
Table 2: Luisha Stockpile RC - 200 Tonne bulk
sample for DMS Trial
The 200 tonne material produced a DMS
concentrate grading approximately 32% copper, 1.2% cobalt; fines
concentrate from spirals graded approximately 28% copper and 1.6%
cobalt.
Results from the truck loads samples are
summarized in Table 3. The samples averaged approximately 4% copper
and 0.6% cobalt.
Sample |
Weight
(Kg) |
Comment |
Cu
% |
Co
% |
Cu
Acid_sol_% |
Co
acid_sol_% |
P002462 |
1.11 |
Truck Grab |
2.86 |
0.34 |
2.84 |
0.24 |
P002463 |
1.10 |
Truck Grab |
2.82 |
0.66 |
2.8 |
0.49 |
P002464 |
1.05 |
Truck Grab |
3.89 |
0.66 |
3.84 |
0.49 |
P002465 |
1.08 |
Truck Grab |
3.02 |
0.46 |
2.94 |
0.34 |
P002466 |
1.10 |
Truck Grab |
2.12 |
0.36 |
1.84 |
0.22 |
P002467 |
1.07 |
Truck Grab |
0.64 |
0.38 |
6.09 |
0.25 |
P002468 |
1.17 |
Truck Grab |
16.78 |
1.35 |
16.12 |
0.89 |
P002469 |
1.04 |
Truck Grab |
2.88 |
0.64 |
2.74 |
0.47 |
P002470 |
1.18 |
Truck Grab |
4.76 |
0.56 |
4.52 |
0.38 |
P002471 |
1.08 |
Truck Grab |
3 |
0.39 |
2.93 |
0.27 |
P002472 |
1.08 |
Truck Grab |
3.67 |
0.85 |
3.54 |
0.56 |
P002473 |
1.18 |
Truck Grab |
4.26 |
0.94 |
4.19 |
0.65 |
P002474 |
1.02 |
Truck Grab |
4.85 |
0.83 |
4.83 |
0.6 |
P002475 |
1.14 |
Truck Grab |
3.15 |
0.35 |
2.97 |
0.22 |
P002476 |
1.12 |
Truck Grab |
2.55 |
0.41 |
2.29 |
0.28 |
P002477 |
1.17 |
Truck Grab |
5.99 |
0.81 |
5.76 |
0.56 |
P002478 |
1.12 |
Truck Grab |
3.57 |
0.54 |
3.43 |
0.37 |
P002479 |
1.04 |
Truck Grab |
4.34 |
0.55 |
4.26 |
0.41 |
P002480 |
1.03 |
Truck Grab |
3.06 |
0.56 |
3.06 |
0.37 |
P002481 |
1.10 |
Truck Grab |
3.12 |
0.39 |
2.93 |
0.27 |
P002482 |
1.06 |
Truck Grab |
3.5 |
0.52 |
3.41 |
0.36 |
P002483 |
1.05 |
Truck Grab |
2.73 |
0.39 |
2.55 |
0.31 |
Average |
|
|
3.98 |
0.59 |
4.09 |
0.41 |
Table 3: Luisha Stockpile RC - 200 Tonne bulk
sample for DMS trial; grab sample analysis from 22 truckloads
transporting sample to DMS plant.
The results of the bulk tonnage trial highlight
the economic potential of processing the stockpile material using
DMS plant and spiral technology.
AFR intends to estimate a copper and cobalt
resource of the stockpile based on the results of the RC drilling.
The resource estimation is in progress, and is expected to be
issued during May.
AFR will report the metallurgical test results
and resource estimation of the stockpile as they become
available.
Nigel Ferguson,
AusIMM, President and CEO of the Company and a qualified person
under National Instrument 43-101, has verified data disclosed in
this release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF AFRICAN METALS CORPORATION
"Nigel Ferguson"
Nigel Ferguson
President & CEO
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES
PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX
VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR
ACCURACY OF THIS NEW RELEASE.
This News Release contains forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are statements which
relate to future events. These statements are only
predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, levels of activity, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. While these forward-looking statements, and any
assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and
reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our
industry, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes
materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections,
assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Except as
required by applicable law, the Company does not intend to update
any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements
to actual results.
About African Metals Corporation.
African Metals Corporation [TSXV "AFR"] is a
Canadian listed company focused on the discovery and development of
Copper and Cobalt deposits in the highly mineralized Katanga
Copper Belt of the world renowned Africa Copper Belt in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
("DRC").
AFR purchased all the assets of Chevalier
Resources Inc. in March 2010
including a 57% interest in the Luisha South Project contained
within licence PEPM 4881, Katanga
Provence, Democratic Republic of
the Congo ("DRC") through subsidiaries incorporated in the
DRC. In July AFR negotiated a further 18% interest in the project
with the option to increase the equity interest to 90% based on
results. The project is located 75 kilometres northwest of
Lubumbashi, the capital of Katanga
Province and consists of approximately 16.2km².
The Luisha South Project includes a small
historical open pit mine and associated stockpile and is underlain
by Roan Group sediments which host major Cu-Co deposits in the DRC.
The Luisha South ore body was explored between 1923 and 1928 and an
oxide deposit with an estimated pre-production tonnage of
approximately 350,000 tonnes at 8.6% Cu was delineated. The
Luisha Project also covers some three kilometres of the Roan Group
strike length which is favorable for Cu-Co mineralization.
AFR is currently conducting metallurgical tests on stockpile
Reverse Circulation drill samples to determine characteristics and
heavy media separation qualities, with the aim of commencing
production of an oxide concentrate by the end of Q3 2011.
SOURCE African Metals Corporation